Golf teeing apparatus



pt. 28, 1948. J. E. SHQUSE 2,450,206

GOLF TEEING APPARATUS Original Filed April 15, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 (mINVENTOR. MJKW 714'4/ Atiomgp 23, 1948- v J. F. SHOUSE 2,450,206 GOLFTEEING APPARATUS Original Filed April 15, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedSept. 2%, i948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE April 15, 1940.

1945, Serial No. 619,466

1 Claim.

My invention has reference to a golf tee apparatus, and it is speciallydesigned for use on driving ranges and other practice fields where anumber of balls are teed and driven off in succession by the sameperson. These practice operations call for a frequent bending over onthe part of the player, in the continual setting of additional balls onthe tee, which exercise becomes irksome to many players, and detractsfrom the pleasure of the sport. The invention consists of asemi-automatic device by means of which a number of balls may be fedfrom a hopper or other container and positioned in succession on ,a teein position for being driven. By the use of the instrument aconsiderable portion of the labor attendant upon the driving of balls onpractice ranges is done away with, and the mechanical operation alsorequires less time, with a consequent shortening of the period requiredfor driving a given number of balls. This is a considerable advantage,especially on busy ranges, where some players may be waiting their turnsto use the ranges.

The device is also capable of use by an instructor of the game of golf,who is required to frequently place a ball on a tee/in explaining toothersthe manner of playing the game. For such use, any number of ballscan be successively positioned for driving, with the necessaryexplanations in connection therewith, and without the attention of theinstructor being detracted by teeing the balls in the usual manner.

This application is filed as a substitute for applicants previousapplication Serial No. 329,595, filed April 15, 1940.

The device is formed of metal throughout, is of simple construction, andcan be produced at a relatively low cost.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 shows the invention in side elevation, with some parts in sectionto more clearly show the same.

Fig. 2 is a detail of the teeing mechanism, in vertical section, withthe tee in retracted position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the tee end of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of a modified form of the tee.

The invention embraces a frame, formed of upper side pieces 6, 6, andlower side rails I, enclosed within a casing 8. The side-rails arepreferably formed of angle-plate, and are united This applicationOctober 1,

at their ends by similar pieces. The rails 1-1 are further connectednear one end by a crossbar 9, upon which is vertically mounted a tubularmember H], within which is vertically movable a plunger I held yieldablin elevated position by a compression spring I3 in the lower end of thetube ID. The upper end of the plunger II is provided with a head I4,perforated to receive the end of a stem l5, the opening being threadedfor engagement with a thread I6 on the end of the stem, with anadjustment nut I! on said threaded portion, to lock the stem in place;the upper end of the stem i5 is fitted with a cup l8, to receive andsupport a golf ball [9 in the usual manner.

The cylinder I0 is provided in its walls with diametrically opposedslots 20, for play therein of one end of a lever 2|, the other end ofwhich is pivoted on a cross-plate 22 fixed to the lower side pieces 1.The movable end of said lever is provided with a slot 23, engaged withwhich is a pin 24, fixed at its ends in the walls of the plunger Avertical rod 25 is connected with the lever 2| by means of a coupling26, having a pivotal connection with the lever at 21. The rod 25 isprovided with a thread 28, engaging a similarly threaded socket 29 onthe lower end of a rod 30, passing upwardly through a plate on theframe, and provided on its upper end with a disk 3|, for operation ofthe rod by the foot of the player. downwardly, into the position shownin Fig. 2, with the top of the tee in position to receive a golf ballfrom the end of a chute 33, supported from one side of the frame, andprovided at its outer end with a hopper 34, adapted to receive aquantity of golf balls, from which they are fed downwardly through thechute by force of gravity. Upon the lever 2| being released the powerstored in the spring l2 carries the plunger and tee upwardly, with theball in position for being driven. By turning the disk 3| and rod 30 inone direction or the other, as desired, the rod 25 is moved upwardly ordownwardly, accordingly, carrying with it the lever 2|, and givingvariation to the height of the tee, and a corresponding change in theheight of the ball supported thereby above the frame. The position ofthe ball can thus be adjusted to suit the wishes of different players.Fixed to the tube Ill so as to project upwardly on the side opposite tothe end of the chute 33 is a guard 35, which prevents the ball frompassing over the top of the tee.

Slidable vertically upon the tubular member H1 is a cylinder 36,provided at its lower end with Such movement pulls the plunger 3 anannular flange 31, held yieldably in raised position by a coiled spring38, between the flange 3'! and cross-bar 9, The cylinder 36 is providedin its walls with vertical slots 39, registering in position with theslots 20, and accormnodating the movement of the lever 2| in its up anddown movement. Coinciding slots Ha are also provided in the walls of theplunger ll, permitting free rocking movement to the end of said lever.Fixed to the upper end of the cylinder 36 is a blade 40, extendingupwardly into the lihe of "movement of the golf balls and preventingsuch balls from crowding against the ball that is being positioned onthe tee, and precluding the feeding of more than one ball at a time. Asthe lever 2| is moved downwardly the plunger 1 l and golf tee carriedthereby are also moved downwardly until the tee approaches a position totake on one of the .balls. The end of the lever then comes in contactwith the flange 31, and forces the same downwardly, carrying the blade40 with it, and releasing the first ball in the chute, which rolls uponthe tee. At the first movement of the tee upwardly the blade 40 is movedin the same direction, passing between the first ball and the one nextfollowing, holding back the following ball and those behind it in thechute. There is thereby no interference by other balls with the one onthe tee.

When a ball has been received on the tee and raised to a position fordriving the player stands at the end of the machine, nearest the tee,and drives the ball to one side of the machine, by the usual operations.After the drive has been made the lever 2| is pushed downwardly by meansof the foot of the player or an assistant, resting on the disk 3|, andanother ball is positioned ready for use.

The stem of the tee is preferably formed of resilient material, such asrubber, so that in case of its being hit by the club of the driver itwill bend over, and then spring back to its former position. In Fig. 5the tee is shown replaced by one of a little difierent form, in whichthe top of a plunger is shown at 42, fitted with a pin 43, upon which isheld the lower end of a spring 44, of sufiicient resiliency to readilybend over upon being struck, and return quickly to its upright position.The pin 43 is preferably provided with threads or corrugations, so thatin turning the spring thereon it will be moved upwardly or downwardly,according to the direction of rota- 4 tion. An additional adjustment canthereby be given to the tee and ball.

It is designed to have the main frame of the apparatus contained in apit in the ground, with the upper plate of the casing about level withthe ground, and the upper part of the tee and the disk 3 l projectingupwardly for use. The upper coil of the spring 44 is of greater diameterthan the body of the spring, forming a rest for the golf ball.

That part of the cover plate at the tee end is covered by a rubber plateor mat 46, having a central opening at 41 for the passage of the tee andball thereon, such plate being secured to the frame, and providing adriving or striking plate, to receive blows delivered at a low point.

What I claim and desire to secure is:

A golf teeing apparatus, comprising a frame, a casing therefor, adaptedto be sunk in the ground, a tubular member supported vertically in saidframe, provided with a pair of vertically extending slots in its walls,diametrically opposed to each other, a plunger vertically movable insaid tubular member, provided with a pair of slots in register with saidfirst-named slots a compressison spring beneath said plunger yieldablysupporting the same, a golf tee mounted on said plunger, a chute mountedin said frame for the delivery of a series of balls to a point to rollon to said tee, a sleeve on said tubular member, carrying a closure forthe end of said chute, and p rgvided with a pair of slots in registerwith the first-named slots, a coiled spring beneath said sleeve holdingthe same normally in elevated, chute-closing position, a lever pivotedat one end in said frame, with its free end having play in said slots,connections between the movable end of said lever and said plunger, andfoot pedal connections with said lever, operable from above the casing.

JAMES F. SHOUSE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,695,006 Brockhagen Dec. 11,1928 1,888,256 Baumgartner Nov. 22, 1932 1,952,113 Beckett Mar. 27, 19342,127,282 Beckett Aug. 16, 1938

